News

12 February 2018

Felix Fund

Challenge, Event, fundraising, Sport, Welfare

Two World Record Attempts in the Bomb Suit

For many of us running a half marathon in shorts and a running top would not be easy. Imagine running it in full bomb suit, with helmet!

This is exactly what Capt Mark Gibbs, a trainee Ammunition Technical Officer (ATO) is doing at the Bath Half Marathon. Not only that he is attempting to beat the current World Record all in aid of Felix Fund – the bomb disposal charity.

Capt Gibbs “The suit weighs 55lbs and the helmet is an extra 10lbs and to get the World Record you need to wear both. The biggest problem we have had is the lack of heat dissipation in the suit. It gets rather hot in there.”

9 February 2018

Walking With The Wounded

Challenge, Events, fundraising, Sport, Veterans

Step up for our Armed Forces community this summer and join Walking With The Wounded for the Balmoral Challenge 2018

Walking With The Wounded is descending on Her Majesty The Queen’s stunning Balmoral Castle and Estate for the second year running this June. Take on the wee Cairn Chaser to explore the forests above the castle. If you’re after an orienteering adventure, how many checkpoints can you collect before time runs out in The Prince’s Stone? Or perhaps you’ll take on the Triple Crown, a 30km race back to the castle over 3 Munros, starting from a secret drop-off location. There’s a route for all abilities, and at the heart of it all, a brilliant cause – to support our ex-servicemen and women who have struggled with their transition from the Armed Forces into civilian life.

8 February 2018

Combat Stress

Challenge, fundraising, Mental Health, Sport, Veterans

Former soldier gets fit to take part in nine fundraising challenges in aid of veterans’ mental health

Having lost six stone, a former soldier from Derbyshire will now be taking on nine fundraising challenges in 12 months to raise money for Combat Stress, the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health.

When Paul Thompson left the Army in 2009, he stopped exercising and began drinking heavily. Six years later and weighing 19 stone, he set himself the challenge of taking part in his first duathlon in 2015 to motivate himself to get fit again.

Paul said: “I realised that something needed to change, so I stopped drinking and started training. I lost six stone in 2015 and set myself the challenge of taking part in a duathlon – it really helped me to have a goal to focus on.”

8 February 2018

Blind Veterans UK

Challenge, Funding, fundraising, Sport, Veterans, Welfare

Berkshire man to run London Marathon for military charity he works for

A man from Berkshire is currently training to compete in this year’s London Marathon for the beneficiaries of Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.

Charlie McAllister, 22 and from Windsor, has long hoped to complete the world-famous course and decided that 2018 would be the year he finally committed. He explains: “It’s always been on my bucket list. Everyone knows about the atmosphere, the significance and, of course, the immense challenge involved. I’m just excited to get out there and experience it firsthand”

8 February 2018

SSAFA

Challenge, Event, fundraising, Sport, Support, Veterans, Welfare

SAS: Who Dares Wins start to compete in SSAFA Midlands Soldier 30:30

TV Star and SAS veteran, Ollie Ollerton, is best known for his recent role in the popular show SAS: Who Dares Wins where he put contestants through a series of endurance tasks. He is now taking on a brand new personal challenge to support SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

Ollie is a keen supporter of SSAFA and works closely with his local branch in particular, remembering that giving back to the military community is of vital importance.

On 17th February the challenge kicks off, consisting of a 30 mile or 30 km trek across the beautiful Uttoxeter countryside whilst wearing 30lb backpacks, teams of four will compete to cross the finishing line.

6 February 2018

Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity, Women's Royal Naval Service Benevolent Trust

Challenge, fundraising, Navy, Royal Navy, Veterans, Welfare

Victory Walk – First 500

Looking back on the first 500 miles (Portsmouth to Hullbridge, Essex) of the Victory Walk, the main difficulty is remembering where I’ve been! Being on the move almost every day means that the walk becomes a blizzard of place names, each to be reached, passed and left behind.

Perhaps the two most difficult things to leave behind were Navy Command HQ with the ongoing WRNS100 demands, and Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower. It took 60 miles and Selsey Bill before the Tower eventually disappeared behind me! WRNS100 did not conclude until mid-December, with a superb reception for 100 serving and veteran naval women in the Speaker’s House, Palace of Westminster. Shortly afterwards I broke for a Christmas break in a cosy rented cottage in Kent.

5 February 2018

Blind Veterans UK

Challenge, Disability Support, fundraising, Sport, Veterans, Welfare

Tyne and Wear man to take on epic 100km challenge for military charity

A man from Tyne and Wear is currently training to compete in a 100km walk in Yorkshire for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.

James Hatton, 27 and from South Shields, was on the lookout for a new way to physically challenge himself when he came across the trek, which takes place from 23 – 24 June around the Dales. He explains: “You name it, I’ve done it! I’ve completed a 10,000ft freefall solo skydive, a bungee jump, several half marathons and even walked over hot coals!

“That’s the kind of person I am. I like to set myself new goals to achieve, new targets to smash and, hopefully, new causes to support!”

5 February 2018

Blind Veterans UK

Challenge, Sport, Veterans, Welfare

Snow much fun: Kent blind veteran enjoys ski trip organised by national military charity

A blind veteran from Kent has been skiing in Canazei, Italy, with other vision-impaired Armed Forces veterans thanks to national military charity Blind Veterans UK.

Chris Strudwick, 53 and from Faversham, skied in the Dolomites mountain range with 24 other vision-impaired skiers as part of the charity’s 41st annual ski trip.

5 February 2018

Turn to Starboard

Challenge, fundraising, Sport, Veterans, Welfare

Are you ready for the 24-hour life raft survival challenge?

It will be cold, it could get windy, and it will definitely be wet!

A Cornish sailing charity is calling out for intrepid individuals prepared to leave their home comforts and spend 24 hours in a life raft for charity.

On Friday May 18, a team of brave volunteers will climb into an inflatable life raft and be floated out into Falmouth Harbour to battle the wind and waves. The day-long challenge aims to raise funds for Turn to Starboard, a sailing charity supporting Armed Forces personnel affected by military operations.

21 January 2018

BLESMA

Challenge, Disability Support, Funding, fundraising, Health, Member News, News, Veterans, Welfare

Row2Recovery Team Trident break World Record for fastest pair to row the Atlantic Ocean

An amputee war veteran has just set the record time for rowing across the Atlantic in what is branded the world’s toughest endurance race.

Former Para Jordan Beecher and Captain Jon Armstrong became the fastest pair to complete the gruelling crossing as they powered their seven-metre-long boat to the finish line in just 37 days, beating the previous record by around three days.

The pair, who first met in the back of a Land Rover as new recruit Paratroopers on a military exercise on Salisbury Plain, braved mountainous seas and 40C temperatures on the 3,000-mile journey from the Canary Islands to Antigua.

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